CVE-2017-12243 in Unified Computing System
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) Manager, Cisco Firepower 4100 Series Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW), and Cisco Firepower 9300 Security Appliance could allow an authenticated, local attacker to obtain root shell privileges on the device, aka Command Injection. The vulnerability is due to improper validation of string input in the shell application. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability through the use of malicious commands. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to obtain root shell privileges on the device. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvf20741, CSCvf60078.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-12243 represents a critical command injection flaw affecting multiple Cisco network security products including the Unified Computing System Manager and various Firepower appliances. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the shell application component, creating a pathway for authenticated local attackers to escalate their privileges to root level access. The flaw specifically manifests when the system fails to properly sanitize string inputs passed to shell commands, allowing malicious payloads to be executed with elevated privileges. The vulnerability affects Cisco UCS Manager, Cisco Firepower 4100 Series NGFW, and Cisco Firepower 9300 Security Appliance, all of which are widely deployed in enterprise network security infrastructures. The Cisco Bug IDs CSCvf20741 and CSCvf60078 document the specific implementation details of this flaw within the affected product lines.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to possess legitimate authentication credentials for the target device, making it a local privilege escalation issue rather than a remote code execution vulnerability. However, the impact remains severe as the attacker can leverage the authenticated session to inject malicious commands that are then executed with root privileges. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-77 and CWE-94 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, specifically addressing command injection and improper input validation weaknesses. The vulnerability allows for arbitrary command execution at the highest privilege level, potentially enabling complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive network infrastructure. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious input strings that bypass validation checks and are subsequently passed to shell commands, effectively gaining root shell access to the affected systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-12243 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete control over the targeted security appliances. Once root access is obtained, adversaries can modify system configurations, install backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, or manipulate network traffic flowing through these devices. The vulnerability affects network security operations by potentially compromising the integrity of critical security controls and undermining the trust model of the enterprise network infrastructure. Organizations using these Cisco appliances face significant risk of data breaches, network disruption, and unauthorized access to their protected environments. The attack vector requires local access with valid credentials, which means that the vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where privilege separation is not properly enforced or where user accounts may be compromised through credential theft or social engineering attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-12243 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems through Cisco's official security advisories and software updates. Organizations must ensure that all affected Cisco UCS Manager and Firepower appliances are updated to versions containing the necessary fixes for the input validation issues. Network segmentation and privilege least-privilege principles should be enforced to limit the potential impact of compromised accounts, while monitoring systems should be deployed to detect unusual command execution patterns or unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and command sanitization in security-critical applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other network infrastructure components, while access controls should be strictly enforced to prevent unauthorized local access to sensitive systems.